Copolymers of a bis ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound



'COPOLYMERS OF A BIS ETHYLENICALLY UN- SATURATED SULFONIUM COMPOUND 'ilohn A. Price, Swarthmore, Pa., and Walter HQSchiiller, Stamford, COIHL, assignors to American Cya'namid Company,- New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maine No Drawing. Application October 19 56 Serial No. 615,026-

9 Claims. 01. 260-793 This invention relates broadly to new and useful c.0-

polymer compositions, and more particularly to compositions comprising a linear copolymer produced by poly-' merization of a mixture of copolymerizable ingredients including essentially a bis'ethyle'nically unsaturated compound containing two and only two unsaturated groupings each having a terminal CH =C radical. Our

invention is especially directed to such compositions comprising a linear copolymer obtained bypolymerization of a mixtureof copolymerizable ingredients including (1) a bis ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound represented by the general formula 1' (Japan-on, /S+R1 R1090,- CHa=CH-OH1 where R and R each represents an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, inclusive, which may be the same or different, and (2) a monoethylenically unsaturated compound which is copolymerizable with the compound-of (1) and which contains a single CH =C grouping. The ingredients of (l) and (2) are present in the aforementioned mixture in the ratio of from about 0.1 to about 40 molar percentof the former to from about 99.9 to about 60 molar percent of the latter. scope of the invention also includes method features, as well as products comprising an oriented fiber made from certain of the copolymers.

Illustrative examples of alkyl radicals represented by R and R in Formula I are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, I

amyl, hexyl and heptyl to octadecyl, inclusive, including the various isomeric forms. Preferably R and R each represents a lower alkyl radical, more particularlymethyl to hexyl, inclusive, including the isomeric forms of the propyl to hexyl radicals.

I are:

Methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate Ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate n-Propyldiallylsulfonium n-propylsulfate Isopropyldiallylsulfonium isopropylsulfate n-Butyldiallylsulfonium n-butylsulfate The Specific examples of compounds embraced by Formula alkylsulfate, specifically methyldiallylsulfonium methyl-' sulfate, is described by the authors, George B. Butler and Ben M. Benjamin, on pages 1847 and 1848 as follows:

To a methanol solution of 0.01 mole of diallyl sulfide was added 0.01 mole of dimethyl sulfate. The mixture was-allowed to stand for five days in a sealed tube; The

2,923,700 Patented Feb. 2, 1960 'ice The light colored liquid which settled to the bottom was washed several times with dry ether and all residual ether removed in vacuum. The liquid did not crystallize even at '78. The same result was obtained when no solvent was used. No precipitate formed upon addition of 2% barium chloride solution.

Ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate is similarly prepared, using 0.01 mole of diethyl sulfate instead of 0.01 mole of dimethyl sulfate. The other alkyldiallylsulfonium alkylsulfates embraced by Formula I can be produced in essentially the same manner, using equal molar proportions of diallyl sulfide and a dialkyl sulfate corresponding to the alkyldiallylsulfonium alkylsulfate to be prepared.

It was known prior to our invention that monoallyl amine could be copolymerized with particular proportions of acrylo-nitrile and with mixtures of comonomers including acrylonitrile to yield a fiber-forming (fiberformable) copolymer (see, for example, US. Patent No. 2,626,946, dated January 27, 1953). Also, in the copending application of Walter H. Schuller and Walter M. Thomas, Serial No. 505,514, filed May 2, 1955, there are disclosed and claimed compositions comprising a linear copolymer obtaine'dbypolymerization of a mixture of copolymerizable ingredients including (1) a quaternary 'ainmoniu'rncompound represented by the general formula of (1) and (2) are present in the aforementioned mixture'in the ratio of from about 0.1 to about 40 molar percent of the former to from about 99.9 to about 60 molar percent of the latter; that is, in the same range of molar proportions used in producing the compositions of the present invention.

It was also known prior to our invention that various diallyl compounds, more particularly diallyl esters of certain polycarboxylic acids (specifically fumaric, sebacic, succinic, adipic and phthalic), could be polymerized to a solid, insoluble and infusible or cross-linked state (see, for example,'U.S. Patent No. 2,311,327, dated February 16, 1943). However, to the best of our knowledge and belief it was not known or suggested prior to our invention that linear copolymers having particular and characteristic properties that make them especially valuable for use in industry could be produced by copolymerizing critical molar proportions of methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate, ethyldiallylsulfoninm ethylsulfate, or other compound (or mixture of compounds) of the kind embraced by Formula I, with at least one compound which is diifereritthere-from, is copolymerizable therewith and which contains a single CH =C grouping, e.g., styrene, nuclearly substituted monomethyl and dimethyl styrenes, methyl and other lower alkyl acrylates, acrylamide, acryloni-- trile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, etc.

We prefer to use as the comonomer with the bis ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound a compound which is copolymerizable therewith and which is represented by the general formula III where R and R each represents a radical selected from the class consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, and alkoxy radicals, R represents a radical selected from the class consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl and aryl radicals,

R and R each represents a member of the class consisting of hydrogen, and alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, and alkoxyalkyl radicals, and R has the same meaning as R and R The present invention is based on our discovery that compositions comprising new and useful linear copolymers can be produced by polymerization of a mixture of particular molar proportions of a his ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound of the kind embraced by Formula I and a monoethylenically unsaturated compound which is copolymerizable with the aforementioned bis compound and which contains a single CH =C grouping. The comonomer which is copolymerizable with the bis ethylenically unsaturated compound is preferably one which is represented by Formula III. The molar percentages of the aforesaid bis compound and comonomer which is copolymerized therewith may be considerably varied within the range of from about 0.1 to about 40 molar percent, e.g., from 0.5-2 to 20-30 molar percent, of the compound embraced by Formula I (specific examples of which have been given hereinbefore) to from about 99.9 to about 60 molar percent of the comonomer containing a single CH =C grouping, e.g., from 98-995 to 7080 molar percent of the said CH =C compound. The copolymerization reaction may be carried out in any suitable manner, but preferably is effected while the mixture of copolymerizable ingredients is dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium and with the aid of a polymerization catalyst, after which the linear copolymer that is formed is isolated, if desired, from the aqueous mass; or, in those cases where the copolymer is formed in solution, the solution of the copolymer in certain cases may be used directly as such without isolation of the copolymer from the aqueous mass.

It was quite surprising and unexpected that a his ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound containing two unsaturated groupings having a terminal CH =C radical, that is, a compound embraced by Formula I, could be copolymerized with another compound containing a single CH =C grouping to yield a linear copolymer, since ordinarily it would be expected that such a his compound when copolymerized with a compound containing a single CH =C grouping would yield a cross-linked copolymer. Surprisingly, it was also discovered that the presence of the second ethylenically unsaturated grouping (allyl radical) on the nitrogen atom apparently increases the susceptibility of the first ethylenically unsaturated grouping to copolymerization with a compound containing a single CH =C grouping.

The reason for the above-described mono-functionality of a bis ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound of the kind used in practicing this invention, and of certain other bis ethylenically unsaturated compounds, is not fully understood. However, one possible explanation is as follows:

Taking diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADM) as illustrative of the his ethylenically unsaturated compound which is capable of undergoing polymerization to a soluble, linear, polymeric substance, it is possible that the polymerization proceeds according to the following scheme involving an intramolecular cyclization of the In the foregoing schematic illustration of the polymerization reaction, M represents a unit of monomer and M- represents the growing chain. M may be solely DADM; or it may additionally include one or more of a variety of monofunctional comonomers, e.g., acrylamide, acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, etc.

It was pointed out hereinbefore that certain monomeric diallyl compounds, e.g., diallyl succinate and diallyl phthalate, were known to polymerize to cross-linked polymers. Other monomeric polyallyl compounds that we have found to polymerize to cross-linked polymers include diallyl sulfide, diallyl urea, methyltriallylammonium chloride and tetrallylammonium chloride.

The reason why certain diallyl monomers do not give cross-linked polymers (cross-linked polymers would be expected a priori from a consideration of the fact that they are obviously difunctional monomers) is believed to involve a favorable geometrical situation of the two allyl groups in space so that the radical formed on the first allyl group of a monomer will find the second allyl group of the same monomer Very much closer for reaction than an ethylenically unsaturated group from another monomer. This would mean that possibly certain maximum and minimum values of the bond angle 11 VIII CHz-QH-C HzM exist (where A is N, S, or even 0, P or C) within which limits the formation of a 6-membered ring through intramolecular cyclization will be almost exclusively preferred; and that outside of these limits, the location of the two allyl groups (attached to the same atom A) relative to one another in space will be such that intramolecular ii' a q ay rlas "bann t iy xe tt n that some bifunctionality will be exhibitedby t he monomer and cross-linking will be observed An; interacti i space between the 1r-bOndS of the two allyl-groups may actually take place w CHz-CH:

which would facilitate the intrarnolecular cyclization. 'Also, electronic factors maybe important in the polymerization of certain diallyl com ounds to "soluble, linear (nO'n-crOss-linked) polymersjth'at is, the electronic nature of the" group A to'which the twd'allyl groups are attached may play a part. I g Y It is important to note thafWhile a rhono'allyl quaternary ammonium compound, e.g,, allyltrimethylarntnoni- -iirn chloride, copolynierize's "with monomers such as acrylarnidc and acrylonitrile to give very low-molecularweight copolymers, the'diallylsulfonium compounds used practicing the present invention, and certain others that have been found to give linear copolyme'rs, e'.g., bis

ethylenically unsaturated quaternary ammonium com-- pounds of the kind embraced 'by Formula II, readily copolymerize with acrylamide and .a'crylonitrile to "give high-molecular-We'ight copolytners. That *is, 'monoallyl quaternary compounds act, in a manner similarto that "of eertain'other monoallyl monomers, -e;g., allyl'chlo'ride and allyl alcohol, as chain terminato'rs or inhibitors for "pol merization [cf. Paul 1. Flow, .Princ'iples of'Polymer Qhemijstry, pp. 172-174 (1953); Cornell University Press, Ithaca, N.Y.], while diallyl quaternary compounds 'thatyi'eld linear copolymers, 'e".g., diallyldimethylamnionium chloride, have no inhibitoryjetfect.. This can be explained in part on the basis of the intramolecular eyelization theory proposed above, "since the radical formed from the first allyl roup cannotre eh the alpha earbonatom of 'thesecond allyl gronpf'for attackwithout forming a highly strained answered-ring: "X on, orr=on-,'M"-w Thus, attachment of the radical is exclusively on the terminal carbon atom of the second allyl group to give a strain-free 6-memb'ered'ring. Monoallyl monomers, as discussed by -Flory,-supra, are believed to losexan alpha hydrogen, in the presence of free radicals, to give a very stable allyl radical, for example:

Fenianon1- properties 'of "our new linear --copolymer's make them "eminentl suitable for use in industryi in applications where the simple homopolymers thereof, as well as other "types of 'copol-ymers, would be entirely :unsuited; For example, the copolyr'ners of amino'r molar percentage of a bis ethylenically unsaturatedrcompound of Jtheki'nd 'em- 1 G braced by Formulal and a major molar percentage of acryl on itr'ile ("e.g., atlleast'8'tlmole' percent of combined acrylonitrile) yield a 'fiber for'rning' linear copolym'er which is more receptive'to "dyes, especially .acid' dyes, than the homopolym'erf of acrylonitrile andmany of the fiberforming:copolytriers'ofacryloiiitrile. Thus, one can make products comprising an oriented fiber comprised of "a linear copolymer obtained by polymerization'of .a' mixture of copolyme'rizableingredients including (1) a his "10..

ethylenically unsaturated compound of the kind embraced by Formula I, 'e.g., methyldiallylsulfonium methylsul fate, ethyldiallylsulfoniurn ethylsulfate, etc., and 2) acrylonitrile, the ingredients of (1) and 2')b'eing present in the aforementioned mixture in' the ratio or from "2 to 20 (e.g.,-frorn 5 to 15') molar percent o'fthe former to from 98 to (e.g., from 95' to molar percent dft'h'e latter. .j

Copolymers of acrylamide and his "ethylenic'a'lly imsaturated sulfon'iurn compounds of the-kind usedxin pract icing our invention also have "very'valuable prop v For example, such copolymers can be used as 'texti etreating agents, e.g., in rendering wool-containing, fabrics resistant to felting and"shrinking, asv core binders, ad- 'hesive and laminating. compositions,.as thickening agents,

in-the photographic artsand for many other purposes;

The linear copolymers of this invention also may be used as intermediates "in the preparationof other synthetic compositions. For example, the acryla'm'idew'opolymers having at least one hydrogen atom attached to the amino nitrogen atom canfbe reacted with anali tehyde, e.g., formaldehyde, toyield anew class of thermosetting or potentially ther'nios'e'tting "resinous compositions. Or, thermosetting "or {potentially 'thermoset'ting compositions also'maybe producedfro'm any of the linear copolymers of our invention 'by cross-linking the linear copolyrner through the residual allyl grouping, forf-instance, by cop'olyrnerization with a suitable cross-linking agent, e.g., diallyl phthjalate; gany 'of'the known 'pol-ymerizable unsaturated alkyd "resins "containing a plurality of alpha, beta-enal groups; etc; Such a cop'olymer-rnation with a cross-linking "agentadvantageously is effected 1 at an elevated temperature "and with the aid of apolymerization catalyst. Polymerization catalysts which ar'efsuitable for use polymerizing compounds containing =anfethylenic ally unsaturated grouping, specifically a vinyhgroupin'g, fare usually suitable for'use in producing-the new linearcopolymers of the presentiirvent'ion. 'Cat'alystswhich are especially suitable for use 'in'practicing this invention-are the water-soluble .peroxy catalysts, preferably =-watersoluble salt of persulfuric (perdisulfu'rie) acid, -wh1ch salt is preferably used in 'conibination witha 'su'lfoxy type o'f reducing agent. Other examples 'of' polymerization eata- 'lysts which are useful inpractic'ihg the present invention include the inorganic and "organic peroxides, eigl, the diacyl peroxides, the primary, secondary-arid'tertiary alkyl peroxides andhydroperoxides and esters thereof, the various water-soluble peracetates, pcrchlorates, percarbon'ates, perborates, perphosphate's', elg., *the'iamnihnium and alkali-metalssalts'of'peracetie, percarbonic,

.=perboric, perphosphoric, persulfuricgperchloric, .etc=, acids;

and water-soluble ferric salts vcapable of yielding ferric ions, including the various ferric alums, e.g., ferric .a'mmonium sulfate, ferric sodiumsulfate, etc.

Such water-soluble catalysts .as mentioned .abo've' b'y Way of example 'are generally employedincorribination with a Water-solubleactivator of the tcatalyst,.forin stance, oxygen-containing, sulfur-containing ,comp'ounds vthat lare capable of undergoing oxidation. .tlllustrative examples of such activators or adjuvants Q-inclilde sulfur dioxide, the alkali-metal e.g., sodium, potassium, .etc,) bisul'fites, hydrosulfites, thiosulfa'tes, :sulfurousl aacid-.( or compounds which engender sulfurous acid, .e.-g. ,'alkaliemetal sulfites, ethyl and other alkyl :sulfites,.etc.') various organicsiil- 'finic acids, ag n-toluene sulfinic acid formaniidineisuh finic acid, etc.

If alkali'metal sulfites, e.g., sodium sulfite, or similar compounds which engender sulfurous acid are used, the aqueous solution also should contain a strong acid, e.g., sulfuric acid, etc., in an arnount which is at least chemically equivalent to the amount of such a compound engendering sulfurous acid that is employed.

Various other free radical types of catalysts can be used to accelerate polymerization, e.g., alpha, alphaazodiisobutyronitrile. Illustrative examples of other catalysts that can be employed are given in, for instance, US. Patent No. 2,656,339.

The concentration of the catalyst is relatively small, e.g., from, by weight, about 1 part of catalyst per 1000 parts of the monomeric mixture to about 4 or 5 parts of catalyst per 100 parts of the mixture of monomers. The amount of polymerization adjuvant or activator used likewise may be varied considerably, but generally is within the range of from about 0.1 to 1 molar proportion based on the catalyst used or an amount which is chemically equivalent to the amount of catalyst employed. The use of higher ratios of activator with respect to the catalyst is not precluded, e.g.,'2 or 3 or more moles of activator per mole of catalyst, or correspondingly larger proportions on a chemical equivalent basis, but no particular advantages ordinarily accrue therefrom. I

The mixture of monomers can be polymerized in emulsion or solution state to yield a linear copolymer.

.Good results are obtained by effecting copolymerization while the monomers are dissolved in a suitable solvent, preferably water or liquid solvent comprising mainly water. Suitable inert organic solvents also can be used advantageously in some cases, e.g., benzene, toluene, xylene, various ketones, etc. The polymerization reaction advantageously is conducted under a blanket of an inert gas, e.g., nitrogen gas.

The temperature at which the monomersare copolymerized can be considerably varied, but in most cases the polymerization temperature will be Within the range of about 20-30 C., preferably at least 35 or 40 0., up to the boiling temperature of the mixture of monomers, depending, for example, upon the particular catalyst, if any, used, the rapidity of polymerization wanted and other influencing factors.

The polymerization can be carried out continuously, semi-continuously or by batch operations. It can be effected under superatmospheric pressure if desired or required.

In order that those skilled in the art may better understand how the present invention can be carried into elfect, the following examples as given by way of i1- lustration and not by way of limitation. In all cases the parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated.

EXAMPLE 1 copolymer of acrylamide and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate A 3-necked reaction vessel is equipped with a thermometer, mechanical stirrer, gas-inlet tube, reflux condenser, and three dropping funnels, which are hereinafter designated for convenience as A, B and C. The vessel is charged with a solution of 50 g. of methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate (about 1.59 mole percent) in 500 ml. of water, the solution is adjusted to pH 2 with 6 N sulfuric acid, and the mixture is swept with nitrogen for 20 minutes. Funnel A is charged with a solution containing 900 g. of acrylamide (about 96.82 mole percent) and 50 g. of methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate (about 1.59 mole percent) dissolved in 2500 ml. of water. This solution is adjusted to pH 2 with 6 N sulfuric acid. Funnel B is charged with a solution containing 2 g. of ammonium persulfate -dis- 8 solved in 500 ml. of water. Funnel C is charged with a solution containing 1 g. of potassium meta-bisulfite dissolved in 500 ml. of water. The contents of 'the dropping funnels are added portionwise, in constant proportion to one another, over a 30-minute period at 40 C. while stirring. The reaction mass is heated for 3 hours at the same temperature (40 C.). A steady flow of nitrogen gas is kept running through the reaction setup during the polymerization. The resulting viscous solution of linear copolymer of acrylamide and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate is diluted by adding 10,000

ml. of water, accompanied by vigorous stirring, to yield .a solution containing 10% copolymer solids.

As 'the product is a free-flowing solution and contains no cross-linked material visible to the naked eye, the composition of the copolymer properly ,may be .considered to be essentially the same as the charge composition.

To g. of the above 10% solids solution of acrylamidemethyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate linear copolymer is added 80 g. of water, and the resulting solution is adjusted to pH 10 by the addition of a few drops of 2.3 N sodium hydroxide. To this solution is added 10.5 g. of formalin (approximately 37% aqueous formaldehyde solution), previously adjusted to pH 10, and the resulting mixture is heated for 1 hour at 50 C., after which hydrochloric acid is added in an amount sufiicient to lower the after which it is framed, air-dried for a short period, and

then heated for 9 minutes at 290 F. After cooling to room temperature, the sample is removed from the frame, allowed to remain undisturbed for about 16 hours, and is then measured prior to laundering. The method of laundering is a modification of the standard method of the A.A.T.T.C., and involves heating for 20-30 minutes at 240 F. while drying after each washing. After a cycle of 5 washing (10 minutes in soap solution) and drying operations, the dried, treated cloth shows a shrinkage of only 5.2%. After S'cycles of washing and drying operations and a washing of 1 hour in soap solution after each cycle, the dried, treated cloth shows a shrinkage of only 8.3%. In marked contrast, untreated woolen cloth after 5 washing cycles of 10 minutes each followed by 60 minutes" washing shows a shrinkage of 45%.

EXAMPLE 2 copolymer of acrylamide and ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate The apparatus used and procedure followed are, in general, the same as that described in Example 1 with the exception that the reaction vessel is provided with a. fourth dropping funnel, D. The polymerization vessel is charged with 30 g. of ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate (about 4.43 mole percent) and 720 g. of water, and the solution is adjusted to pH 2.5 by the addition of 5 N sulfuric acid." Funnel A is charged with g. of acrylamide (about 95.57 mole percent) dissolved in 580 g. of water. Funnel B is charged with 2 g. of ammonium persulfate dissolved in 250 g. of water. Funnel C is charged with 1 g. of potassium meta-bisulfite in 250 g. of Water. Funnel D is charged with 50 ml. of isopropanol. The reaction vessel is purged with nitrogen for one hour, with stirring. The contents of the four funnels are added in five equal portions with a 20-minute interval between each addition. Stirring is maintained continuously as is a continual, slow flow of nitrogen into the vessel. The temperature is held at 40 C. throughout the 80-minute addition period, and the subsequent heating period of 2% hours. r

The aqueous copolymer solutions of this example, or solutions of their formaldehyde-reaction products, are useful as, for instance, core binders, components of ad- 'rated in the copolymer.

hesive and laminating compositions, sealing agents, vthickeners, etc. Theyare also useful as textile-treating compositions or as components of suchcompositions. For instance, they can be employed in treating woolcontaining fabrics and other textiles to impart shrinkage resistance thereto as described under Example 1 with reference to the formaldehyde-reaction product of that example; or, solutions of formaldehyde-reaction products of the copolymer can be used in this same manner.

For the acrylamide used in Examples 1 and 2, one can substitute an equivalent amount of another monomer (or mixture of monomers in any proportions) which is different from methyldiallylsulfonium me'thylsulfate (or ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate'), is copolymerizable therewith and which contains a CH =C grouping, more particularly a compound (or mixture of compounds) of the kind embraced by Formula III, e.g., methac'rylamide, ethacrylamide, cyclopentylacrylamide, phenylacryl'ai'r'iide, tolyl acrylamide, benzylacrylamide, and the various monoand di-N-substituted acryl-amides, including the mono, and di-N-alkyl, -cycloalkyl, -aryl, -alkaryl, -aralkyl and -alkoxyalkyl acrylamides. In some cases it may be desiuable to carry out the reaction in a mixture of water and an organic solvent, for instance a 1:1 volume mixture of Water and acetone when preparing a copolymer .of methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate .(or .ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate) and, for example, N-tertiarybutylacryl'amide.

For the methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate of Example l or the ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate of Example 2, one can substitute an equivalent amount of n-propyl- 'diallylsulfonium n-propylsulfate or any other compound of the kind embraced by Formula I, numerous examples of which have been given hereinbefore.

EXAMPLE 3 Copolymer of acrylonitrile and m ethyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate To -a reaction vessel provided with a reflux condenser are charged 82.5 g. of 96.9% acrylonitrile (about 94.8 mole percent), 100 g. of a 20% aqueous solution of methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate (about 5.2 mole percent), 1300 ml. of Water, and 1.0 g. of ammonium persulfate. The resulting solution is heated under reflux at the boiling temperature of the mass for 100 minutes.

The resulting linear, binary polymer of acrylonitrile and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate is filtered from the reaction mass, washed first with 2 liters of water and then with 2 liters of methanol, after which itis dried in oven at 70 C. A fairly good yield of linear copolymer is obtained. It is soluble in dimethylformamide and other organic solvents, as well as in a concentrated aqueous solution of a water-soluble salt which yields highly hydrated ions in an aqueous solution, e.g., sodium, potassium and calcium thiocyanates, guanidine thiocyanate, zinc chloride, etc.

One-half gram of the dried copolymer is dissolved in 50 ml. of dimethylformamide to yield a perfectly clear solution without any indication of insoluble gel being present. This would indicate a lack of cross-linked material in the copolymer. A sample of the dried copolymer weighing approximately '1 g. is dispersed in a mixture containing ml. of a 10% solution of sodium sulfate, '10

.ml. of a 2% aqueous solution of sulfuric acid, 10 m1. of

a 2% aqueous solution of Calcocid Alizarine Blue SAPG (Color Index No. 1054), and 90 ml. of water. The dispersion is boiled for 40 minutes, then filtered by suction, and the solid is washed with hot water until the filtrate is colorless. The copolymer is found to be dyed a deep blue, indicating that a substantial quantity of methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate has been incorpo- Homopolymeric acrylonitrile, when similarly treated, is colorless or nearly so.

A' portion of the copolymer is made into a fiber as described in Example 4.

10 EXAMPLE 4 Forty (40) parts of the -binary:polymer.ofExan iplelr3 .is .slurried'by rapid stirring at room temperature iii-160 -parts of dimethylformamide. -While protected by :a

blanket of carbon dioxide the temperature of the mixture is raised to C. with slow stirring until all of the copolymer has dissolved to form a clear, viscous .solution;

After filtration and deaeration the warm solution is'extruded downwardly through a spinnerette having 40.holes, each 70 microns in diameter, into a spinning cell, the inner wall of which is maintained at a temperature of approximately 425 C. by means of a fluid heating medium which circulates around the outer wall of the cell. A current of preheated gas at 125 C. is introduced at the bottom of the cell and passes upwardly counter-current to the filaments which pass downwardly from thespin- .nerette. By this means the major proportion of the dimethylformamide is evaporated from the filaments by the time the filaments have reached the bottom of :the cell.

From the bottom of the cell the group of filaments o-r thread is led through water to remove the last of the dimethylformamide solvent, after which it is continuously dried by. passing it over a pair of heated drying rolls. The .dry multifilament thread is then thermoplastically stretched by conducting it through a slot which is maintained at 400 C. and thence to stretch rolls. Stretch is applied to the thread by having the surface speed of the rolls on the delivery end of the heated slot 6 times that of the surface speed of the rolls which feed the thread to the slot. The filaments are oriented along the fiber axis by this stretching operation.

The thermoplastically stretched thread is more lustrous than that of the unstretched thread. To remove residual strains or shrinkage, the thread is conducted through a second, heated slot at 400 C. and thence to a pair of rolls, the surface speed of which is adjusted to permit about 15% shrinkage of the thread in the slot. After this thermoplastic treatment the thread is collected on a ring-twister bobbin.

A skein of the finished thread is tested for its dyeability, in comparison with a skein of thread similarly prepared from homopolymeric acrylonitrile, as follows;

Each skein (10 parts) is placed in a dye bath consisting of 500 parts of an aqueous solution containing 0.2 part of concentrated sulfuric acid, 1 part of sodium sulfate and 0.2 part of Calcocid Alizarne Blue SAPG (Color Index No. 1054). The dye bath is boiled for 30 minutes, after which the skeins are removed from the bath and washed with hot water until the water is free of dye. The skein of thread of homopolymeric acrylonitr'ile is substantially undyed while the skein of thread of the copolymer of Example 3 is dyed blue. Other propert es of the thread of copolymer, such as wet and dry tenacities, elongation, abrasion resistance, etc., are substantially the same as those which characterize the thread of homopolymeric acrylonitrile.

EXAMPLE 5 Copolymerof styrene and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate 'To 30 parts of methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate (about 20.66 mole percent) dissolved in parts of water is added 14.3 parts of a 35% solution of stearamidopropylbeta-hydroxyethylammonium chloride (Wetting agent) and 200 parts of water. The solution is adjusted to pH 4.5 with dilute sodium hydroxide. This mixture is con-- 11 (about 79.34 mole percent). The contents of the three dropping funnels are added simultaneously and at equal rates over a 1-hour period with vigorous stirring. The

pot temperature is maintained at 43 C. Stirring is continued for 2 additional hours at a temperature of 43 C.,

after which any unpolymerized styrene is removed by steam distillation. A free-flowing copolymer emulsion is obtained which exhibits exceptional stability. The emulsion of the linear copolymer of styrene and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate is not broken by the addition of alum or sodium sulfate, by boiling, heating for 1 hour, or freezing in a Dry-Ice bath for 2 hours. Upon evaporation to dryness and redissolution of the residue in water, the copolymer emulsion is again obtained.

The remarkable and unexpected stability of this emulsion makes it eminently suitable for use as a component of wall paints, adhesives, and coating and/or impregnating compositions. This copolymeric emulsion or latex also can be employed directly for the preparation of various sheets, coatings and elastorneric articles.

Instead of styrene employed in this example, one can use an equivalent amount of, for example, para-methyl styrene, alpha, para-dimethyl styrene, any of the nuclearly substituted dialkyl styrenes, the various chloroand cyano-substituted styrenes, vinyl naphthalene and other compounds which are different from diallylamine, are copolymerizable therewith and contain a single CH =C grouping.

EXAMPLE 6 copolymer methyl acrylate and ethyldiallylsalfonium ethylsulfate To 6.5 g. of ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate (about 17.7 mole percent) dissolved in 21 g. of Water is added 9.7 g. of methyl acrylate (about 82.3 mole percent), 300 g. of water, 0.2 g. of sodium chlorate, 1.4 g. of sodium sulfite heptahydrate, and the homogeneous solution is adjusted to pH 2 by the addition of a few ml. of 3 N sulfuric acid. The solution is heated at 65 C. for 3 hours. A quantity of rubbery, water-insoluble linear copolymer of methyl acrylate and ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate forms during this time. It is filtered off, washed with water and dried to a constant weight. This copolymer can be used, for instance, as a component of various finishes and sizes (e.g., text'le sizes, leather-finishing compositions, etc.), as a modifier of other synthetic resins, as a component of printing pastes, as an intermediate in producing other synthetic materials, and for other purposes.

Instead of methyl acrylate employed in this example. one can use an equivalent amount of any of the other alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, especially the lower alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, e.g., ethyl, propyl, butyl and amyl acrylates, and the methyl to amyl, inclusive, methacrylates; also, the corresponding alphachloroacrylates.

In a manner similar to that described above with reference to the preparation of a copolymer of methyl acrylate and ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate, one can prepare a copolymer of methyl isopropenyl ketone and ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate, using a chemically equivalent amount of methyl isopropenyl ketone for the amount of methyl acrylate used in Example 6. Instead of methyl isopropenyl ketone one can use an equivalent of, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl or isobutyl vinyl ketone, phenyl vinyl ketone or ethyl isopropenyl ketone; or any of the vinyl alkyl ethers, e.g., methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl vinyl ether.

EXAMPLE 7 Copolymer of vinyl acetate and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate To 7.5 g. methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate (about of water, 3.0 g. of a 35% solution of stearamidopropylbeta-hydroxyethylammonium chloride (wetting agent), 0.5 g. of sodium lauryl sulfate, 0.2 g. of ammonium persulfate, 0.1 g. of potassium meta-bisulfite, and the mixture, after vigorous shaking, is adjusted to pH 2 with 3 N sulfuric acid. The cloudy emulsion is heated with occasional shaking for 3 hours at 65 C. On the following day it is noted that addition of the reaction mixture to water yields a quantity of a white, rubbery, waterinsoluble, linear copolymer of vinyl acetate and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate. The copolymer is filtered ofit, washed with water and dried at room temperature to a constant weight. It can be used, for example, as an adhesive composition or as a component of such compositions.

Instead of vinyl acetate employed in this example, one can use an equivalent amount of, for example, vinyl propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, or laurate.

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of ternary polymer of acrylamide, acrylic acid and ethyldiallylsalfonium ethylsulfate Into a three-necked reaction vessel equipped with two dropping funnels, thermometer, stirrer and an inlet for the introduction of nitrogen gas is charged a mixture of 1 part of ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate (about 1.32 mole percent) in 57 parts of water. The system is purged for 1 hour with prepurified nitrogen gas. One dropping funnel is charged with a mixture of 3 parts of acrylic acid (about 19.96 mole percent) and 11.6 parts of acrylamide (about 78.72 mole percent) which has been neutralized to a pH of 7 with a base, and 34 parts of water. Equal portions of the contents of each of the dropping funnels are added to the reaction vessel every 5 minutes over a period of /2 hour, at the end of which time the last addition has been made. The temperature of the reac tion mass is maintained at 7080 C. throughout the reaction period. The flow of nitrogen gas through the system is continued during the entire reaction period. After the contents of the two dropping .funnels has all been added to the reaction vessel, the reaction is permitted to continue for an additional 3% hours. The resulting aqueous solution of a linear ternary polymer of acrylamide, acrylic acid and ethyldiallylsulfoniurn ethylsulfate is suitable for such uses as described under Examples 1 and 2 with reference to the copolymers of those examples.

EXAMPLE 9 Ternary polymer of acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate A reaction vessel, provided with two dropping funnels, is charged with 93.0 g. of 96.9% acrylonitrile (about 94.13 mole percent), 5.3 g. of vinyl acetate (about 3.42 mole percent), 10.6 g. of methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate (about 2.45 mole percent), 10.6 g. of sodium n1- trate, and 950 ml. of deionized water. Funnel A is charged with 0.880 g. of sodium chlorate and 3.15 g. of sodium sulfite dissolved in ml. of water. Funnel B is charged with 11.5 ml. of 3 N nitric acid in 88.5 ml. of water. The reaction vessel and its contents are purged with nitrogen gas for /2 hour before additions of catalysts are begun. The pot temperature is raised to 40 C. and held at that temperature throughout the polymerization. The contents of the tunnels are added portionwlse over a 2 /2-hour period, followed by a l /z-hour heating period to insure completeness of reaction. The white, amorphous, linear, ternary polymer of acrylonitrile, v1nyl acetate and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate 1s filtered oft, washed and oven-dried at 70 C. It weighs 68 g. (64% conversion). The molecular weight (Staudmger method) is about 66,000.

EXAMPLE 10 Sixty (60) g. of the linear ternary polymer of acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate and methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate of Example 9, 70 ml. of water and 470 g. of a 57.5% aqueous solution of sodium thiocyanate are mixed to dissolve the polymer and to form a spinning solution. This solution is filtered, placed under vacuum and allowed to deaerate for about 72 hours.

The aforementioned spinning solution is formed into a fiber by extruding it through a spinnerette, having 40 holes each 90 microns in diameter, into a coagulating bath comprising water maintained at a temperature of about C. The spun fiber in gel state is continuously passed over a pair of converging wash rolls while it is advancing in a helical path. The fiber is rinsed with water on the rolls to remove excess thiocyanate. The washed fiber is stretched about 550% while passing through a bath of hot Water maintained at a temperature of about 995 C., and then is taken up on a bobbin where it is kept in a gelled state by applying a fine spray of water while the fiber is being collected on the bobbin. It can be air-dried, oven-dried (for instance, under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity), or dried by passing it in a helical path over a pair of heated, con- 'verging drying rolls.

A S-gram swatch of the above-described fiber (sample A) and a S-gram swatch of a fiber similarly made from homopolymeric acrylonitrile (sample B) are immersed in a dye bath consisting of 500 parts of an aqueous solution containing 0.2 part of concentrated sulfuric acid, 1 part of sodium sulfate and 0.2 part of Calcocid Alizarine Blue SAPG (Color Index No. 1054). The dye bath is boiled for 30 minutes, after which the swatches are removed and washed with hot water until the water is free of dye. The sample A swatch is dyed a deep blue color while the sample B swatch is undyed.

In a manner similar to that described above with reference to the production of the copolymers of the individiual examples, one can prepare linear copolymers of other compounds embraced by Formula I and a monoethylenically unsaturated compound which is copolymerizable therewith and which contains a single CH =C grouping, using the ingredients in the molar percentage proportions hereinbefore described.

We claim:

1. A composition comprising a linear copolymer obtained by polymerization of a mixture of copolymerizable ingredients including (1) a his ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound represented by the general formula where R and R each represents an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, inclusive, and (2) a monoethylenically unsaturated compound which is copolymerizable with the compound of (1) and which contains a single CH =C grouping, the ingredients of (l) and (2) being present in the aforementioned mixture in the ratio of from 0.1 to 40 molar per-cent of the former to from 99.9 to 60 molar percent of the latter, and the monoethylenically unsaturated compound of (2) being at least one compound selected from the class consisting of acrylonitrile; methacrylonitrile; acrylic acid; acrylamide; methacrylamide; ethacrylamide; cyclopentylacrylamide; phenylacrylamide; tolylacrylamide; benzylacrylamide; the monoand di-N-alkyl, -cycloalkyl, -aryl, -alkaryl, -aralkyl and alkoxyalkyl acrylamides; styrene; nuclearly substituted monomethylstyrene; nuclearly substituted dialkylstyrenes; alpha, para-dimethylstyrene; chlorostyrenes; cyanostyrenes; vinylnaphthalene; methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and amyl acrylates, methacrylates and alphachloroacrylates; vinyl acetate; vinyl propionate; vinyl butyrate; vinyl isobutyrate; vinyl laurate; methyl, ethyl, propyl and isobutyl vinyl ketones; phenyl vinyl ketone; methyl isopropenyl ketone; ethyl isopropenyl ketone; and methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl and Z-ethylhexyl vinyl ethers.

2. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the bis ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound of (l) is methyldiallylsulfonium methylsulfate.

3. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the bis ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound of (1) is ethyldiallylsulfonium ethylsulfate.

4. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the monoethylenically unsaturated compound of 2) is acrylonitrile.

5. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the mono ethylenically unsaturated compound of (2) is acrylamide.

6. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the monoethylenically unsaturated compound of (2) isvinyl acetate.

7. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the monoethylenically unsaturated compound of (2) is styrene.

8. A product comprising an oriented fiber comprised of a linear copolymer obtained by polymerization of a mixture of copolymerizable ingredients including (1) a bis ethylenically unsaturated sulfonium compound represented by the general formula onF-orkonz s+-n, Riosor where R; and R each represents an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, inclusive, and (2) acrylonitrile, the ingredients of (1) and (2) being present in the aforementioned mixture in the ratio of from 2 to 20 molar percent of the former to from 98 to '80 molar percent of the latter.

9. The method of preparing a new linear copolymer which comprises polymerizing, in an aqueous medium with the aid of a polymerization catalyst, a mixture of copolymerizable ingredients including (1) a his ethylenically unsaturated compound represented by the general formula where R and R each represents an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, inclusive, and (2) a. monoethylenically unsaturated compound which is copolymerizable with the compound of (1) and which contains a single CH ==C grouping, the ingredients of (l) and (2) being present in the aforementioned mixture in the ratio of from 0.1 to 40 molar percent of the former to from 99.9 to 60 molar percent of the latter, and the monoethylenically unsaturated compound of (2) being at least one compound selected from the class consisting of acrylonitrile; methacrylonitrile; acrylic acid; acrylamide; methacrylamide; ethacrylamide; cyclopentylacrylamide; phenylacrylamide; tolylacrylamide; benzylacrylamide; the monoand di-N-alkyl, -cycloalkyl, -aryl, -alkaryl, -aralkyl and alkoxyalkyl acrylamides; styrene; nuclearly substituted monomethylstyrene; nuclearly substituted dialkylstyrenes; alpha, para-dimethylstyrene; chlorostyrenes; cyanostyrenes; vinylnaphthalene; methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and amyl acrylates, methacrylates and alpha-chloroacrylates; vinyl acetate; vinyl propionate; vinyl butyrate; vinyl isobutyrate; vinyl laurate; methyl, ethyl, propyl and isobutyl vinyl ketones; phenyl vinyl ketone; methyl iso propenyl ketone; ethyl isopropenyl ketone; and methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl and Z-ethylhexyl vinyl ethers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Albisetti et al Ian. 3, 1956 De Jong Oct. 30, 1956 

1. A COMPOSITION COMPRISING A LINEAR COPOLYMER OBTAINED BY POLYMERIZATION OF A MIXTURE OF COPOLYMERIZABLE INGREDIENTS INCLUDING (1) A BIS ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED SULFONIUM COMPOUND REPRESENTS BY THE GENERAL FORMULA 